Zone 10 - What to Plant in October

Zone 10 - What to Plant in October

The dog days of summer have finally passed in zone 10 and we can start growing some crops in the garden. The typical first frost in Zone 10 is mid-late December but even then it can be very mild. This allows for easy winter growing of several crops. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 10 in October.

New Zealand spinach, known scientifically as Tetragonia tetragonioides, is a unique leafy green vegetable that thrives in warm climates, making it a popular choice in gardens. Unlike traditional spinach, which is a cool-season crop, New Zealand spinach is a perennial plant with succulent, triangular leaves that have a mild, slightly salty flavor. This hardy plant can tolerate heat and drought, making it ideal for summer gardens. It is often used in salads, stir-fries, and as a cooked green, providing a nutritious alternative to other leafy greens. With its ability to grow well in poor soil conditions and its attractive, sprawling growth habit, New Zealand spinach is not only a versatile culinary ingredient but also a valuable addition to edible landscapes.

The Parris Island Cos is an heirloom romaine lettuce that is great for home and market gardens. This variety is a great lettuce commonly used for baby leaf production. Parris Island Cos is a fast maturing lettuce that makes an excellent tasting head. Its uniform upright, grey-green heads are 8-12" tall and have slightly savory leaves and are medium-slow to bolt.

The Mammoth Melting Pea is a snow pea that adds the perfect mouthwatering crunch to any salad! The 5-6 foot tall vines require trellising for support. This variety's large sweet pods thrive in the cooler weather. Add a fresh pop of bright green to any garden or dish with the Mammoth Melting! Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.

The Gabriella is a loose leaf lettuce variety that has beautiful deep wine colored leaves. This variety's purple leaves are frilly and sweet -- perfect for adding a pop of color to salads! The Gabriella's leaves are delicious from mesclun size to maturity. This variety is heat resistant and slow bolting.

Walla Walla onions are a distinctive, sweet onion variety renowned for their large size, mild flavor, and delicate texture. Originating from the Walla Walla Valley in Washington State, these onions have a history dating back to the late 1800s. Their bulbs are typically round or slightly flattened, with smooth, pale yellow to light brown skins, and their flesh is exceptionally sweet and mild, making them ideal for raw consumption in salads, salsas, or on sandwiches. Known for their low sulfur content, which contributes to their sweetness, Walla Walla onions are a long-season crop, requiring a full growing cycle to reach maturity. They are beloved by gardeners for their ability to grow in a variety of climates, though they flourish best in well-drained, fertile soil with ample sunlight.

The Persian Star is a hardneck purple stripe type garlic. The outer skin can grow pure white with inner wrappers that are streaked purple. The red-tipped cloves with marbled streaks on whitish or yellow-brown background. The Persian Star is a very pleasant flavor with a mild spicy zing that is a great addition to any dish!

The Brilliant celeriac is a large round root related to celery! This celeriac plant produces a a large round root with dark green celery-like leaves and a white flesh. Brilliant is a great addition to any meal as it adds a great flavor!

The Cosmic Purple carrot is absolutely amazing! This beautiful purple carrot is bright yellow and orange inside! Cosmic Purple carrots have a tapered 7" shape and a very sweet taste, that has extra healthy anti-oxidants. This carrot is quite popular at farmers markets.

Scarlet kale seeds are a vibrant and intriguing choice for any garden enthusiast looking to add a splash of color and a touch of nutrition to their harvest. These seeds produce kale with striking red and purple leaves that not only brighten up your garden but also provide a visually stunning addition to your plate. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, scarlet kale is as beneficial as it is beautiful. Its bold flavor, with a slightly peppery bite, can elevate a variety of dishes from salads to soups. Easy to grow, these seeds thrive in cooler weather and are resilient to frost, making them a versatile option for extending the growing season. With scarlet kale, you're not just cultivating a nutritious vegetable; you're enhancing your garden's aesthetic appeal with a vibrant, healthful crop.

The Merlot is a looseleaf type of lettuce with intense deep burgundy colored leaves. This variety is slow bolting and ideal for cut and come again culture. Enjoy this beautifully colored lettuce in a baby salad mix!

Red Express cabbage seeds produce a variety of cabbage known for its vibrant purple-red color and compact, round heads. This variety is prized for its early maturity, typically reaching harvestable size in about 60-70 days. The heads are tightly packed and dense, with crisp, tender leaves that offer a mild, sweet flavor, making it ideal for both fresh consumption in salads and slaws or for cooking. Red Express cabbage is also known for its resistance to common cabbage pests and diseases, making it a robust choice for home gardeners. Additionally, it provides a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as antioxidants.

Amazing cauliflower seeds produce a high-yielding, uniform variety known for its large, dense, and smooth white heads. This hybrid cauliflower is prized for its excellent resistance to common diseases and its ability to perform well in a range of growing conditions, from cool climates to slightly warmer environments. With a fast-growing cycle, Amazing cauliflower is ideal for early-season harvests, making it popular among commercial growers and home gardeners alike. The compact, tightly-formed heads are highly marketable and have a delicate, mild flavor that holds up well in both fresh and cooked dishes. Whether grown for local markets or personal use, Amazing cauliflower seeds offer consistent, premium-quality results with minimal care required.

Nebuka Evergreen Bunching onion seeds produce a hardy, non-bulbing variety of green onion that traces its roots to traditional Japanese gardening, where it has long been prized for its reliable, perennial growth. Known for its slender, upright stalks with crisp white bases and tender green tops, this onion thrives in a wide range of climates and can be grown year-round in mild regions. It is quick to mature, easy to grow from seed, and often multiplies by clumping, providing a steady harvest with minimal effort. The flavor is mild yet savory, less pungent than bulb onions, making it ideal for fresh use in salads, garnishes, soups, and stir-fries, while its greens can be cut repeatedly for continuous use in the kitchen. This versatile and dependable onion has earned a place in both home gardens and culinary traditions worldwide.

The Graffiti cauliflower has a fun purple head with a great flavor! Graffiti produces a true deep purple head. This variety is a large cauliflower plant with dark green leaves and it produces best in the fall. It can also be planted in early spring. The Graffiti is very fun to watch grow and eat!

The Early Alaska Pea is an old heirloom that, just like its name suggests, thrives in the colder climates. This variety does great in early spring or short season plantings. The vines are cold hardy and can grow to 30." This pea plant yields 3 1/2” pods filled with 6-7 delicious medium sized peas that are excellent for fresh eating or freezing for later use.

The All Seasons Cabbage is a very heat resistant cabbage that is resistant to yellowing and will offer a nice flavor in any dish. This cabbage produces fine heads that are about 10-11" across and average about 11-14 pounds.

Lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale, is a leafy green vegetable characterized by its long, dark green, crinkled leaves. The leaves have a distinctive bumpy texture and are often a deep, rich shade of green, sometimes with a bluish tint. They grow on tall, upright stalks and have a slightly sweeter and milder flavor compared to other kale varieties. This type of kale is prized for its versatility in the kitchen. It can be eaten raw in salads, blended into smoothies, sautéed, or added to soups and stews. Lacinato kale holds up well to cooking without losing its texture, making it a favorite for both chefs and home cooks alike. Nutritionally, it's packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and iron, making it a powerhouse of health benefits. Its striking appearance and robust flavor make Lacinato kale a standout choice for any dish!

Vates is one of the highest yielding collards around! This collard variety produces dark green leaves that are very delicious. Vates grows to a height of 30" and is very slow to bolt.